n this file photo from Oct. 24, 2024, Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu answers a question from a lawmaker during a parliamentary audit at the National Assembly in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The national football governing body said Tuesday it is considering appealing a decision by the sports ministry to demand disciplinary action for its leader as a result of a monthlong investigation.
Earlier Tuesday, the ministry announced the final findings of its probe into the operations at the Korea Football Association (KFA). Citing a series of irregularities and rule violations, the ministry asked the KFA to “at least suspend” its president, Chung Mong-gyu, along with other senior executives.
The ministry said the KFA may also choose to dismiss Chung, who has been at the helm of the football governing body since 2013 and is expected to pursue his fourth term early next year.
Choi Hyun-joon, inspector general for the ministry, said the KFA must take action on Chung within a month and inform the ministry accordingly. However, if the KFA asks the ministry to reconsider, then the ministry will review the appeal and will notify the KFA within two months.
The coaches’ group also criticized the frequent changes to the KFA’s coach selection process under Chung’s leadership since 2013. (Yonhap)
In a brief statement released to the media Tuesday evening, the KFA said, “We are considering asking the ministry to reconsider the findings of its investigation.”
The KFA added that it will have a further response sometime Wednesday.
Chung and the KFA have been under fire for months due to several off-field issues, most recently the controversial hiring of Hong Myung-bo as the men’s national team head coach in July.
Critics of the move charged that the KFA did not subject Hong to a proper hiring process, prompting the ministry to launch its probe in late July. The ministry concluded that Chung must be held accountable for the KFA’s failure to go through fair and transparent steps to hire the coach. It also said the KFA should restart the entire hiring process and make its own decision on whether to retain or dismiss Hong.
“We are not merely recommending disciplinary action here. We are demanding it. We have the authority to do so, based on laws guiding government audits,” Choi said at a media briefing Tuesday. “It’s up to the KFA to decide on the next course of action. We expect the KFA to make an appropriate decision, in line with public opinion and standards,” Choi said.
“However, if it fails to accomplish that, we at the ministry will take all policy measures, including limiting the amount of subsidies provided to the KFA, to ensure the KFA will transform into a normal organization with fair and transparent decision-making processes.”
(Yonhap)
